Self-Harming Therapists in N1K
Delaney DeFrancisco
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, BA
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Guelph, ON N1K
Are you feeling disconnected from yourself, unable to access a version of you that feels trapped within? You are not alone. Specializing in facilitating growth in adolescents and adults, I work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety or depression stemming from self-worth concerns, past hurtful experiences, or obsessive thoughts and behaviours. Wounds from hurtful experiences can significantly impact how we perceive ourselves, the world, and others. These wounds may prevent you from living a life aligned with your true wants and values.
Are you feeling disconnected from yourself, unable to access a version of you that feels trapped within? You are not alone. Specializing in facilitating growth in adolescents and adults, I work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety or depression stemming from self-worth concerns, past hurtful experiences, or obsessive thoughts and behaviours. Wounds from hurtful experiences can significantly impact how we perceive ourselves, the world, and others. These wounds may prevent you from living a life aligned with your true wants and values.
Self-Harming Counsellors
How does therapy for self-harm work?
A person may turn to self-injury so that they can distract themselves from their stress, depression, anxiety, or upsetting circumstances. Therapy can address the cause of an individual’s suffering. A therapist can help a person understand why they may want to self-harm and help the person learn new methods of coping. A person may have poor emotion regulation, and treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is helpful for breaking this behaviour. In addition, treatment such as dialectical behaviour therapy can help a person manage their tolerance of distress.
Which therapies are best for self-harm?
Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioural, dialectical behaviour, psychodynamic, and mentalisation-based therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioural and dialectical behaviour therapies are common approaches for people who have painful thoughts and past traumas. These therapies help an individual cope with distress, regulate emotions, and manage impulsive urges.
Does the tendency to self-harm mean the person is suicidal?
Having this urge does not mean the individual suffers from suicidal ideation. People who want to self-injure look to distract or alleviate themselves from the pain they are experiencing. People with suicidal tendencies want to end life altogether. However, this does not mean a person with the intent to self-harm will not attempt suicide.
How often and how long are therapy sessions for self-harm?
As with any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Clients may see improvement within 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, while others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, maybe, a six-month period. People, especially those with co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, may need to continue therapy for up to 12 to 18 months.